Alberta Election 2012: Winners and losers

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EDMONTON - In a province where incumbency is usually a ticket back to the legislature, Albertans got a lesson of what it’s like to live in a more volatile political environment Monday night. After a campaign full of horse races, early results pointed to some important victories and surprising personal defeats. Here is a look at some of the winners, losers and tight contests, based on early results.

WinsRachel Notley, NDP (Edmonton-Strathcona)Notley was a standout in the Legislature as one of two NDP MLAs elected in 2008. She quickly pulled away from opponents in this central-Edmonton riding as the votes rolled in Monday, being tapped for a second term.

Dave Hancock, PC (Edmonton-Whitemud)As the campaign heated up, Hancock was one of the high-profile cabinet ministers who the PCs brought out to help sell voters on some of his party’s platforms. A loss in this riding would have been a huge upset, but Hancock will add to his 15 years in the legislature.

Jacquie Fenske, PC (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville)The Strathcona County councillor and third-generation Strathcona County resident helped keep former Premier Ed Stelmach’s riding Tory blue, winning the seat against a solid Wildrose candidate, Shannon Stubbs. Last time, Stelmach won his riding with 78 per cent of the vote but there was some question as to whether Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville voters would buy into the Wildrose message. Steve Young, PC (Edmonton-Riverview)With the retirement of this riding’s longtime Liberal MLA, Kevin Taft, Edmonton-Riverview was wide open. It appeared to swing solidly PC on Monday night, electing the Edmonton police officer to his first term in the legislature.

Ric McIver, PC (Calgary-Hays)McIver made a name for himself as one of Calgary city council’s most conservative representatives. While he came second to Naheed Nenshi in Calgary’s 2010 mayoralty contest, McIver secured the PCs the Calgary-Hays seat Monday.

David Eggen, NDP (Edmonton-Calder)This boost to the NDP caucus marks a return to the legislature for Eggen, who held the seat from 2004 to 2008. PC candidate Doug Elniski, who won the riding in 2008, opted not to run again. Eggen also is known for his work as executive director of Friends of Medicare.

Sohail Quadri, PC (Edmonton-Mill Woods)This southeast Edmonton riding promised an interesting contest, with the former PC MLA Carl Benito running as an independent after losing the Conservative nomination to Quadri. A political newcomer, Quadri held a solid lead over the second-place Wildrose candidate, giving the businessman a place as a rookie in Premier Alison Redford’s cabinet.

LossesTed Morton, PC (Chestermere-Rocky View)Predictions were that this deeply conservative member of the PC party faced trouble in his riding. Morton, who ran twice unsuccessfully for the Conservative leadership, lost Monday to Wildrose candidate Bruce McAllister, a well-known Calgary television personality. Glenn Taylor, Alberta Party (West Yellowhead)As leader of the new Alberta Party, the popular former mayor of Hinton hoped to make an electoral breakthrough and give his party a voice among the 87 elected MLAs. Despite focusing on his local race, Taylor was unable to wrestle this riding from PC incumbent Robin Campbell. He was running third with 29 of 65 polls reporting. Guy Boutilier, Wildrose (Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo)Turfed from the Conservative caucus in the last term by then-premier Ed Stelmach, Fort McMurray’s Boutilier joined the Wildrose party. The region’s voters handed the longtime MLA a defeat in tight contest Monday night as he tried to secure a fifth term in the Legislature, picking Conservative Mike Allen in his place.

Ray Danyluk, PC (Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills)In the 2008 election, Danyluk scored one of the Conservatives most commanding victories when he won 71 per cent of his riding’s vote. But the transportation minister lost his seat Monday to Wildrose candidate Shayne Saskiw in one of the biggest PC upsets of the night.

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